Fundamentals of Software Testing

I recently read a Book, Software testing (Second Edition) by Ron Patton from SAMS Publications. Few concepts in this book enlightened me the complexity involved in Software testing.

From the points I learned out of this book is, I can see a pattern regarding the spectrum of skills and knowledge of people who participate in the practice. In the past, it was not uncommon for some companies to hire ‘clever’ people who were simply good at finding bugs into testing roles. I suspect that some people thought as long as they were finding behavioral type issues of the software they were providing a benefit to the company because they were ‘good at representing the customer.’ At the other end of the spectrum the developer’s in testing roles who failed to realize the challenges in software testing. In both extremes complacency and stagnation usually occurs. Of course, there are many other Software testers between these extremes; some who will go on to become professional Software testers and have significant impact, and others who will simply belly-ache and whine about how unfair it is or claim how wrong any change is and why change won’t work.

As professional software Engineers we must constantly strive to improve our knowledge of testing, technology, and the systems we are working on. We must also increase our skills and abilities as the demands of the role expand beyond the traditional comfort zone of behavioral testing and ‘playing customer advocate’ by executing ‘tests’ to find bugs at the end of a cycle. The challenges of testing complex systems built around advancing technologies significantly raises the aptitude bar for Engineers. To drive engineering quality upstream and form closer customer connections is also impacting the role of testing and how testing adds value in the lifecycle . Reinstituting best practices such as design and code reviews and inspections (when warranted), or developing new approaches or tools to help increase testing effectiveness and reduce costs also require greater skills and knowledge among Software testers.

The formidable challenges of testing software that lie ahead will require highly intelligent critical thinkers who also have an in-depth understanding of the systems they are working on, and who possess the technical aptitude to provide valued input in throughout the product cycle. Indeed we work in a very dynamic industry filled with diverse challenges that demand continued learning and greater proficiency of the skills used in our profession.